Culture Capital Pilsen: Beer, art and puppets

A city without a cathedral - that would have been utterly unthinkable in the Middle Ages.That's why, following the foundation of Pilsen by Czech King Wenceslas II in 1295, its citizens hurried to construct St. Bartholomew's Cathedral. Its 100-meter-high Gothic church tower offers the most splendid view of the city, and it houses its most precious jewel: the so-called Pilsner Madonna.

Pilsen may have only 170,000 inhabitants, but its prestigious Republic Square makes up for the small number. As one of Europe's largest city squares, it can compete with those of bigger metropolitan areas. Out of gratitude for having been spared the Black Death, citizens erected a pillar in its center in 1681.The square is also embellished by three modern wells made of gold and granite.

The "office" of Mayor Martin Zrzavecký is a gem from the Renaissance. Most events during the Capital of Culture year will be coordinated from here. With culture, art and creativity, the Pilsen residents want to get rid of the traditional image of their town as a gray industrial stronghold. City Hall was constructed in 1558 in accordance with the original plans of an Italian architect .

The Jewish citizens of Pilsen look back on an eventful history. In 1338, they were officially mentioned for the first time. They were driven out of the city several times - only to resettle there each time.The Great Synagogue of Pilsen, constructed in 1892, is Europe's second largest - next to the one in Budapest. Its acoustics are so unique that numerous concerts take place there.

The Grand Theater is one of the most important cultural monuments of the city. The sandstone building was constructed in Neo-Renaissance style in 1902. Until 1966, a smaller theater existed there as well, because Pilsen residents love drama, opera and ballet. In September 2014, the New Theater was opened in the vicinity of the historic one.

Marionette and puppet shows have a long tradition in Pilsen. Legendary players like Karel and Josef Novák Skupa let the puppets dance in the city. From 1930 to 1943, Skupa headed Czechoslovakia's first professional puppet theater in Pilsen. The Theater Alfa was founded there in 1966. Its 15 puppeteers often travel abroad as guest performers.

When the first artists occupied the city's South Station in 1998, the train station, constructed more than 100 years ago in Art Nouveau style, was totally run down and unheated. The artists turned the building into a studio with rehearsal rooms. Nowadays, theater and dance groops perform on the stage of the former station hall - and will contribute to the coming year of cultural events.

Pilsner beer is one of the world's most renowned beer brands. More than four million hectoliters are bottled annually. Not surprisingly, the Pilsner Brewery is the city's main tourist attraction, drawing half a million visitors per year. Beer lovers can learn more about its history from 1842 until today in the nearby Brewery Museum.

The Skoda factory, established in Pilsen in 1859, is still one of the most important employers in the region. At first, the engineering company produced equipment for breweries, sugar factories and mines. After the First World War, the first cars were produced there. It was in part due to Skoda that Pilsen became known as an industrial city.

Pilsen has also established itself as a green city. A historic water channel on the eastern side of the city wall used to channel water into a mill. The romantic site is still a popular destination for walkers. But during the Capital of Culture year, it might be difficult to find a quiet spot there to relax after an exhausting tour around the city.